'THE GOOD DOCTOR' HALTS PRODUCTION RAMP UP IN VANCOUVER DUE TO TESTING ISSUES
"There is an issue with COVID-19 testing, which we are working to resolve with the BC Council," confirmed a Sony Pictures Television spokesperson on Friday. The ABC drama starring Freddie Highmore had been in pre-production and was aiming to get cameras rolling by mid-August. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/good-doctor-halts-production-ramp-up-vancouver-due-testing-issues-1305510
OPINION: BRINGING BRITISH COLUMBIA’S STORIES TO THE SCREEN
There’s nothing wrong with using our amazing scenery and the spectacular place in this province as movie backdrops. But I’d be far more interested in seeing stories where British Columbia locations are used to tell British Columbia stories. https://www.bclocalnews.com/opinion/column-bringing-british-columbias-stories-to-the-screen/
EI-LIKE BENEFIT FOR GIG, CONTRACT WORKERS WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER CERB ENDS, TRUDEAU SAYS
The federal government plans to move out-of-work Canadians into the employment insurance system when a key emergency benefit runs out in the fall, and provide an EI-like support for millions who can't qualify under existing rules. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/employment-insurance-cerb-contract-workers-pandemic-trudeau-1.5668961
JESSE WENTE, ANISHINAABE WRITER, BROADCASTER NAMED CHAIR OF CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS
The announcement was made Tuesday by Steven Guilbeault, minister of Canadian Heritage. Wente, who is currently a board member at the council, is the first Indigenous person to be appointed as the chair since it was founded in 1957.
CANADIAN STAR MELANIE SCROFANO ON SHOOTING WYNONNA EARP DURING A PANDEMIC
The series, which stars Melanie Scrofano as its hard-drinking, monster-hunting hero, survived a year in limbo due to financing snarls. Season 4 went into production in Calgary last fall, only to have to shut down in March when COVID-19 rolled across Canada. https://www.straight.com/movies/canadian-star-melanie-scrofano-on-shooting-wynonna-earp-during-a-pandemic
THE EMMY NOMINATIONS ARE HERE, AND THEY ARE UNBELIEVABLY QUEER
The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards are still happening this September despite...everything, and this morning we learned what television they might celebrate. The nominations were truly among the most diverse batches of contenders, including a record-breaking showing from LGBTQ performers and storytellers. https://www.cbc.ca/arts/the-emmy-nominations-are-here-and-they-are-unbelievably-queer-1.5665758
DIRECTOR OREN MOVERMAN ON THE FUTURE OF MOVIES: ‘INDEPENDENT CINEMA, AS WE KNOW IT, IS OVER’
The director of "The Messenger," and the producer of "Bad Education" and "The Tale," looks over a movie landscape changed by the pandemic — but one, he says, that was already undergoing a revolution. https://variety.com/2020/film/news/oren-moverman-movies-future-independent-cinema-1234717450/
AMC, UNIVERSAL AGREE TO SHRINK THEATRICAL WINDOW TO 17 DAYS
The standard window of theatrical exclusivity typically runs about 90 days. Up until now, the largest chains have steadfastly refused to screen films that don't give releases a lengthy and exclusive run in theatres before moving onto video-on-demand or streaming services. https://www.vancourier.com/amc-universal-agree-to-shrink-theatrical-window-to-17-days-1.24177630
OPEN DOOR’S DAVID MUMENI ON WHY ACTORS SHOULDN’T ‘GO FOR PARTS’
Known to UK audiences from the critically acclaimed Stath lets Flats, Dead Pixels, and Sliced, he’s also a writer and the founder of Open Door, which supports people from low-income backgrounds applying to drama school. https://www.backstage.com/uk/magazine/article/slate-open-door-david-mumeni-71301/
'THE LAST KINGDON' STAR ALEXANDER DREYMON BREAKS DOWN HIS ACTING TECHNIQUE
Alexander Dreymon broke out onscreen with his starring role as Danish warrior Uhtred of Bebbanburg in “The Last Kingdom.”
HOW TO DEVELOP A SCREENWRITING PRACTICE IN QUARANTINE
The art of screenwriting is the art of creating something from nothing. There is a story that’s born in your imagination and is brought down through your fingers onto the page. But in order to leave your imagination and make the terrifying leap to the page, your ideas must feel safe and protected on their journey. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/how-to-develop-a-screenwriting-practice-in-quarantine-71251/
UPCOMING TRAINING
DIALECT COACHING AND MORE! - TONY ALCANTAR & ASSOCIATES
Over 30 years of teaching experience...and we're BACK!
* YOUNG ACTORS (ages 8-15) join our END OF SUMMER acting camp. Dialects, Voice-Over, Comedy, Auditioning, On-camera, more!
M-F, August 24-28, 10-1pm | The Beaumont Studios, 326 W. 5th Ave, Vancouver. 2400 sq/ft of social distancing for your young actor!
* September: Standard American for Young Actors, Standard American for Adults.
Script Analysis with Francesca Bianchi
Saturdays 10-1pm, 1-4pm info@tonyalcantardialect.com | 604-418-1192 | www.tonyalcantar.com
RAILTOWN ACTORS STUDIO
For everyone's health, we are waiting until September to hold in-person classes with safety protocols in place.
Fall Semester Classes are open for registration with start dates in September, October and November:
* "Film Acting Immersion" and "Sunday Scene Study to Film" with John Cassini.
* Scene Study Classes with Ed Foy and Frank Cassini.
* NEW Scene Study Classes with Jennifer Copping.
All Class Details: www.railtownactors.com/classes
Coaching and tapings available: www.railtownactors.com/coaching
ROGUES WEST ACTORS STUDIO
With studios in Vancouver and Calgary, the Rogues name is synonymous with the highest calibre of training and we have been training and mentoring actors for over 25 years. The online platform has proven to be a powerful and dynamic medium for developing relationship, character and creating complex human performances. Our next session of studio and online classes starts September 14th – email us for more info and book your intro meeting with Christiane Hirt! rogueswest@gmail.com | www.rogueswest.ca
BIZ STUDIO: ONLINE PROFESSIONAL FILM+TV ACTING CLASSES FOR KIDS+TEENS
Biz Studio has a seventeen-year track record of training young actors who work regularly in film and television.
Classes are like small-group personal training, and take a maximum of six students so that instructors can work with each actor to give them what they need. This is the place for young actors ready to take their work to the next level! http://www.bizstudio.ca/classes
UPCOMING EVENTS
THE RELAY
June 25 - September 5
This summer, The Relay is bringing together 13 unique artists to collaborate and create an unfolding story over three months. Every second Thursday, be part of the community and watch each episode live to join the conversation across multiple online platforms and engage in real-time chat with the artists. https://thecultch.com/events/the-relay/
VINE ARTS FESTIVAL
August 5-15
The festival is a free public event that creates platforms for local artists and performers to create with and on the land, steering their creative impulses toward work that focuses on the environment – whether a deep love of nature, sustainability, or climate justice. https://vinesartfestival.com
COLD READING SERIES
August 10
We’ve missed you & excited to host our next event via Zoom, from the Havana Theatre. 2 Short scripts with small casts will be featured. Actors [pre-cast], will arrive @ The Havana for 6:45pm. Scripts will be emailed & read from their devices. To maximize social distancing, we do not anticipate any in-person audience. http://www.coldreadingseries.com
VANCOUVER QUEER FILM FESTIVAL
August 13 – 23
VQFF is on this August, and will feature films and interdisciplinary programming from queer filmmakers and artists whose work shows the many ways we fight for the fullness of our lives, for what and who we love, and for our shared futures. https://queerfilmfestival.ca
